This blog contains assorted news and commentary on the fundraising profession and philanthropy gathered by the AFP Fundraising Resource Center.
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Friday, October 29, 2004

Some high-ranking officials at Michigan and Ohio State had to eat a healthy dose of humble pie this week after a public backlash forced them to shelve a $1 million deal to sponsor their annual football game.
The Michigan-Ohio State clash has long been known simply as 'The Game.' But school officials had all but signed the dotted line on a lucrative deal that would have changed The Game to the SBC Michigan-Ohio State Classic."

Las Vegas SUN: Attitude, growth are factors in state of local philanthropy: "Attitude, growth are factors in state of local philanthropy
By Kevin Rademacher
LAS VEGAS SUN
In the world of philanthropy, Las Vegas' biggest asset might also be its most significant roadblock.
Maryland-based researcher Richard Harwood gave that assessment to a crowd of local leaders attending the Business Community Investment Council's Philanthropy Summit on Thursday."

The Greater Baton Rouge Business Report � It�s Your Business to Know: "At their best, charitable groups have worked tirelessly over the decades to help the less fortunate. At their worst, they've been tools of financial abuse, providing lavishly compensated executives with tax shelters and a shield from regulators and the unsuspecting public.
Federal lawmakers, fresh off their wrath against big corporate scandals, are now setting their sights on nonprofit corporations, at least those of the less honorable variety. The post-Enron reform that sought to remedy how publicly traded companies handle their accounting books, profits and governing boards appears headed for the charitable sector."

Institute of Fundraising: "Please note that the Institute of Fundraising is currently unable to receive incoming telephone calls due to technical difficulties affecting our telephone lines, following our recent office move. We are doing everything we can to rectify the situation as quickly as possible. Our calls are currently being fielded by a call centre, but please do contact us by email at info@institute-of-fundraising.org.uk. Your query will be forwarded to the relevant contact as soon as possible.
The Institute of Fundraising have moved offices. Please click here for map and directions"

PND News - California Wellness Foundation Awards Sabbaticals to Nonprofit Executives: "California Wellness Foundation Awards Sabbaticals to Nonprofit Executives
Six nonprofit executives have been selected by the California Wellness Foundation, in Woodland Hills, for its sabbatical program, which will give their organizations $30,000 grants to cover salaries and expenses during the sabbaticals, which will last a minimum of three months. "

Election Too Close to Call? Raffle Is Betting On It: "So she decided to capitalize on the possibility that Tuesday's presidential election would be too close to call, or that some irregularity would preclude a clear victory. The 45-year-old executive director of a small nonprofit agency launched a fundraising raffle � called 'Who's Out?' � that would reward the person who predicted the date, hour and minute that the world knew the end result of the presidential election."

MSN Careers - Should I Work for Free? - Career Advice Article: "Despite how hard I try, I have been unable to land a new job. I have been thinking about volunteering to work for a company for free for 30 days so they can see how I perform. Hopefully they will then hire me. Do you think this is a good idea?'
M.T., Pittsburgh, Pa.

While the idea of volunteering to work for a company for free to get your foot in the door sounds good in theory, in reality, it is simply a bad idea. There are overwhelming legal and ethical issues.

Paula Brantner, program director for Workplace Fairness provides some great insight into this issue: 'Were the company to take you up on your offer, in most cases the employer would be breaking the law. While there are specific exceptions for those volunteering for private nonprofit and governmental organizations, the law requires that if you work, you get paid at least minimum wage ($5.15/hr. under federal law and higher in some states).

'Even nonprofit and governmental organizations using volunteers cannot assign them to tasks similar to work customarily performed by employees. Volunteers cannot be involved in the nonprofit's work that is a commercial enterprise competing with other businesses (such as a church thrift store or a hospital gift shop). And if you're seeking to volunteer for a for-profit business, think again. You cannot waive the right to receive the minimum wage for the work you do; otherwise, employers could routinely exploit desperate employees by asking them to waive all or part of their wages. A reputable company is not going to risk legal liability by hiring 'volunteers' - not when you could later sue them for back wages and penalties c"

She founded her own consulting group and has been an adviser in the philanthropic and charitable sectors for more than 20 years.

'Renata Rafferty has given of her time, energy and experience to perform numerous workshops for women who are the fund-raisers for their nonprofit organizations,' stated a nomination form submitted by Roche."

Oshkosh Northwestern - Grants up 70 percent: "Grants up 70 percent
Foundation sets record in �03-04
By Hlee Vang
of The Northwestern
The Oshkosh Area Community Foundation couldn�t have asked for a better year than the one they just wrapped up.

Its annual report released early this week shows it was able to give out more than $2.6 million in grants to charitable projects and programs in Oshkosh and surrounding areas during its 2003-04 fiscal year that concluded at the end of June 2004.

The grants awarded during that period were up 70 percent from the previous year.

Seventy-nine new charitable funds also were set up bringing the amount the community foundation raised in 2003-04 to $3 million. That fiscal year, 1,821 different donors contributed to the foundation and its funds."

Independent Sector Convenes National Panel on Nonprofit Sector :: PNNOnline :: the nonprofit news and information resource: "Independent Sector Convenes National Panel on Nonprofit Sector
Posted by: laurakujawski on Friday, October 29, 2004
Independent Sector announced the creation of a national panel that will make recommendations to Congress to improve the oversight and governance of charitable organizations. IS formed the 'Panel on the Nonprofit Sector' at the encouragement of Finance Committee Chair Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Senator Max Baucus (D-MT).
In their letter to Independent Sector, Senators Grassley and Baucus noted that 'there is great value in your bringing together an independent group of leaders with broad experience... We would welcome the recommendations that will be forthcoming from such a panel to assist our legislative efforts.' The Finance Committee asked that the panel provide a report of its initial findings and recommendations by February 2005 and a final report in the spring of 2005.
The Senators' call for further study and recommendations is part of a year-long focus on the nonprofit sector by the Senate Finance Committee in response to numerous reports in the media of ethical lapses in governance, fundraising, and other practices. In June, the Finance Committee held hearings and released a discussion paper exploring a number of changes in the law governing the charitable sector. In July, the Committee convened a roundtable of sector leaders to discuss further possible reforms."

Women continue to give more to charity than men and the traditional street tin collection is still the most popular way to make a charitable donation, according to the results of a survey published today.
Medical research has the widest support, with 24.4% of people questioned saying they donated. Children and young people came second, attracting 21.6% of charitable support, the annual survey by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations showed."

Charities could be fined in the future if they miss deadlines for preparing their annual reports and accounts for the Charity Commission, according to proposals the commission is drawing up to give itself tougher powers.
They could also face further financial penalties if they fail to meet other 'compliances' which the commission, in consultation with the Home Office, is still in the process of defining, the chairwoman, Geraldine Peacock, revealed today.
Ms Peacock said that this year 13% of the top 200 charities had failed to submit their reports and accounts on time, a figure which she described as 'shocking'. "

Non-resident Indians to be tapped for funds: "Krishna Kumar said Indian Americans, who are very keen on philanthropy, could be tapped to help improve the life of the poorer sections of society in India. He said the government was doing everything possible to make it easier for overseas Indians to invest in the country. "

SBN: "Upon further review - Michigan/Ohio State game sponsorship will NOT move forward
An agreement for SBC to sponsor the Ohio State-Michigan football games in 2004 and 2005 will not go forward, officials from both universities announced Wednesday, Oct. 27. Although the institutions were close to an agreement to have SBC support the games and supply funding to other programs at the two schools, the details of the contract could not be finalized to the schools' satisfaction.
Andy Geiger, director of athletics at The Ohio State University , said: 'We were excited about the positive impact the agreement would have on the Department of Athletics, the University and the community. But as we attempted to move forward, it became apparent that this agreement could detract from the great tradition of the game itself. Given that possibility, and the fast-approaching date of this year's game, the two universities agreed it was in their best interest not to pursue the arrangement at this time.
'We are very grateful to SBC for their willingness to participate in this great event, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them as a corporate sponsor.'"

THE WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service has threatened to revoke the NAACP's tax-exempt status because the group's chairman, Julian Bond, 'condemned the administration policies of George W. Bush' during a speech this summer, according to documents the civil rights group provided yesterday."

dailypennsylvanian.com - Huntsman speaks on giving back: "Huntsman speaks on giving back
[Ryan Jones/The Daily Pennsylvanian]
Wharton alumnus Jon Huntsman Sr. speaks to a large crowd about leadership, networking and his experience as CEO of his chemical firm.
Students line aisles to hear advice from wealthy benefactor
By cici zheng
October 29, 2004
Jon Huntsman Sr. spoke in the building bearing his name yesterday in front of a crowd of more than 300 students and faculty as part of the Wharton School's Wharton Alumni Leadership Series.
'I have a very simple principle in my life,' Huntsman said. 'I believe that, when we're fortunate enough to be blessed by God, we owe society some of that, if not all. If we're fortunate enough to make something, we should be grateful enough to put it back.'"

Mayor's family cashes in on charity: "Mayor's family cashes in on charity
Kilpatrick's foundation used funds to pay sister, wife, friend
October 29, 2004
BY M.L. ELRICK and JIM SCHAEFER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS
A charity Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's family established to help city students has spent more than half of its money on salaries for three employees: the mayor's sister, his wife and the wife of one of Kilpatrick's best friends.
The Next Vision Foundation, created after the mayor took office in 2002, runs a leadership class for high school juniors and seniors and awarded about $50,000 in scholarships. Its motto is 'Families First ... Future Focused.'
More than $395,000 of the $717,000 the foundation raised in 2002 and 2003 from other charities, local businesses, casinos and city contractors was paid to Ayanna Kilpatrick, the mayor's sister, first lady Carlita Kilpatrick and Lisa Cylar Miller."

Forbes.com: Defining Charity Upward���On My Mind Defining Charity Upward Mark Redmond, 11.15.04 Why do wealthy people give to well-endowed universities serving successful kids, instead of to nonprofits that help the truly needy? When I read a few months ago about an anonymous $50 million donation to Middlebury College, followed by an additional $10 million, also anonymous, I wondered, "Why not Spectrum?" Not that I have anything against Middlebury, which is in my home state of Vermont. It is a fine institution, one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country. It does a good job in fulfilling its mission. But I have to wonder: Why would someone wealthy enough to make such a donation give to a place that already has beautiful buildings, a golf course, a ski slope, a magnificent hockey rink, a first-class cafeteria/restaurant and one of the highest tuition rates in the U.S.?

Thursday, October 28, 2004

News Sentinel | 10/28/2004 | Police briefs: "Philanthropy Day
Paulette Maehara, president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, is keynote speaker at a National Philanthropy Day celebration and awards breakfast at Indiana Institute of Technology, 1600 E. Washington Blvd., on Nov. 18. Maehara has been named by the NonProfit Times as one of the top 50 influential people in philanthropy in the country. Awards also will be given in several categories of philanthropy.
Tickets, at $15, can be bought by mailing checks payable to AFP Northeast Indiana Chapter, 227 E. Washington Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46802; Attn: National Philanthropy Day. Deadline is Nov. 8; for information, call Gail Miller at the United Way, 422-4776."

FREDERICKSBURG, Va., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Rebecca Adamson, President and Founder of the First Nations Development Institute, has been selected as one of the world's most 'Outstanding Social Entrepreneurs' by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. One of only thirteen outstanding social entrepreneurs selected internationally for this recognition in 2005, Adamson and the organization she leads were the only award recipients selected from the United States.
In its fourth consecutive year of highlighting the work of the world's foremost social entrepreneurs, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship has sought out practical, results-oriented innovators who assist impoverished individuals and communities in becoming agents of change and self-determination. Social entrepreneurs use business and innovative
revenue models to stimulate social inclusion. The work of these individuals and their organizations spans various fields, including economic development,
health, housing, transportation, micro-finance,"

The role of first lady is a very complicated one. It's a role of a lifetime. It's one of the most important jobs in politics, yet it has no job description. The 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week, four-year job doesn't pay. First ladies need to be active but not controversial. They must represent everyday Americans and yet act as American royalty. They are under the constant scrutiny of public expectation and under constant limitations which conflict with modern-day women.

Are we ready for a 21st-Century first lady? According to a recent poll conducted by PBS and USA Today, presented in a PBS special Monday night, people are split in their expectations of the first lady - just as the country is in deciding the next president.

Martha Washington, the original first lady, said the job made her feel like a prisoner"

Charity Collector Sells For Profit (from Barnet Times): "�Charity collector� sells for profit
By Times Group
A company which runs door-to-door clothing collections, which it says are for charity, actually sells the items for profit, according to Brent and Harrow Trading Standards.
Kosta Ltd delivers leaflets and plastic sacks to homes across the borough of Harrow, soliciting donations of goods which it says will help poor families in eastern Europe.
A few weeks ago, the trading standards department warned residents not to be fooled by Kosta's charity collections' and referred the company's leaflets to the Advertising Standards Authority, which told the company the wording was misleading and ordered it to be more honest."

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 2004--
Kintera Sphere(TM) Enterprise-Level Software Platform Provides Innovative, Online Tribute/Memorial Area to Honor Men Who Have Been Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer
Politicians and sports heroes, husbands and sons -- they are all among the hundreds of thousands of men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
To honor those who have fought the disease, as well as men battling for their lives right now, the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) announced today the launch of 'Monument Park' (www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/monumentpark), a virtual, online area for tributes and memorials for men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Using Internet tools developed by technology solutions provider Kintera(R) Inc. (Nasdaq:KNTA), web visitors can create their own Monument Park mini-site featuring a library of photos and memories for a loved one, or post a message on an individual's virtual monument site.

The Tides Foundation: "Tides President, Drummond Pike, to Receive National Philanthropy Day Award
Philanthropic Leader will be Presented with Outstanding Foundation Professional Award on November 15, 2004

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- October 27 -- Drummond Pike, founder and president of The Tides Family of Organizations, has been selected to receive the Outstanding Foundation Professional Award at the 2004 National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon in San Francisco. This annual award is sponsored to thank a foundation professional who individually initiates creative nonprofit efforts and who works to develop partnerships in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. "

By Ron Strom
� 2004 WorldNetDaily.com
In a letter of clarification requested by a traveling minister, the Internal Revenue Service has declared people gathered in tax-exempt churches can't pray for President Bush to win the election on Tuesday. "

The jingling of Salvation Army bell ringers may become a ghost of holidays past.
The 'army of compassion' says it is moving in the direction of replacing its red kettle-guarding ground troops - a tradition since 1891 - with 'virtual kettles' on the Internet. The charity cites a Target Corp. decision to prohibit "

Advocate champions nonprofits' rights, keeps close eye on foundations.
10.26.2004 -
By Ret Boney
At age 17, Rick Cohen was kicked out of high school for criticizing a Vietnam War-related school program in an article he wrote, and in 1972, he was banned from his college campus for helping to organize demonstrations condemning U.S. bombings in Cambodia.
Today, after 35 years in the nonprofit sector, he is no less outspoken as executive director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, a group he describes as the "

Buffalo News - Blindsided by a betrayal of trust: "One was a Catholic school business manager who redirected tuition payments into her personal bank accounts.
Another was a longtime bookkeeper who pocketed more than $200,000 from the Boy Scouts to pay for a family car and tuition bills.
Still another was an ordained deacon who stole thousands of dollars from the church's food pantry for the poor.
When people think embezzlement and fraud, they may conjure up images of slick, smooth-talking insiders using double ledgers to siphon money from corporate trust funds. "

On the Dot: Moving to a new Web site? Leave a forwarding address - Internet: "Moving to a new Web site?
Leave a forwarding address
By Matt Lake
When the truck full of armed soldiers pulled over and encouraged me to hightail it off a country road, I got the impression that I was in the wrong place. I'd been looking for a weekend hiking and biking trail, and I had found one location that intrigued me: an eight-and-a-half-mile stretch of abandoned highway that used to be part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Three years ago, a conservancy bought the entire stretch, including two long tunnels, for a dollar. And now, it's open to the public.
My Web research had produced accurate results about the location, but it missed one crucial detail about my potential hiking site: on some weekends, the U.S. Army's 99th Regional Readiness Command practices maneuvers there. On those occasions, the public is discouraged from getting in the way by a truck full of soldiers--polite, but nonetheless armed, soldiers.
My Web research missed one crucial detail about my potential hiking site: on some weekends, the U.S. Army practices maneuvers there.

The sad thing about this encounter is that the nonprofit that manages this trail regularly posts information about closures on its Web site. The information was there for me to find before I set out, but I failed to find it. Why? Because until recently, the Southern Alleghenies Conservancy used its ISP's Web storage as its sole Web site--and any generic URL ending in /~sacc/index.html isn't going to register high on a search engine. If it did appear in any of my search results (and it might have), it didn't land very high on my list,"

An umbrella body for voluntary organisations has welcomed the Charity Commission's first in-depth survey of its role and functions saying greater transparency in how the regulator operates is needed.
The External Stakeholder survey, aims to 'dig deep' to listen to the views of up to 100 key players in large and small charities, consumer and funding bodies, government, the media and "

NPR : Timing of Charity Shutdown Troubles Muslims: "Timing of Charity Shutdown Troubles Muslims
Listen
All Things Considered, October 26, 2004 � Another Muslim charity has its assets frozen by the U.S. Treasury; the group's operators are accused of supporting terrorists. The move was made near the start of Ramadan, when Muslims are required by their religion to give to charity. NPR's Greg Allen reports"

Nonprofit CEOs and boards are soon likely to see stricter federal rules on how they operate
By Chris Gautreau, Contributing writer
Posted: 10.26.04 - 03:30 PM
At their best, charitable groups have worked tirelessly over the decades to help the less fortunate. At their worst, they've been tools of financial abuse, providing lavishly compensated executives with tax shelters and a shield from regulators and the unsuspecting public.
Federal lawmakers, fresh off their wrath against big corporate scandals, are now setting their sights on nonprofit corporations, at least those of the less honorable variety. The post-Enron reform that sought to remedy how publicly traded companies handle their accounting books, profits and governing boards appears headed for the charitable sector.
That means the people who run and serve on the boards of local nonprofits may soon find their stewardship under far greater scrutiny. "

Larry Ellison's New Philanthropy: Offshoring :: AO: "Larry Ellison's New Philanthropy: Offshoring
Oracle's CEO does not apologize for providing good jobs to people in India and Mexico. Here's why. (Part Five of six.)
Larry Ellison [Oracle] | POSTED: 10.26.04 @17:37
Outsourcing was a hot topic at the Wall Street Journal's D Conference this summer, and Larry Ellison was just one of several business leaders to be quizzed about the subject by interviewers Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. His answer, however, was uniquely Ellison."

Up 'til Dawn is trying to raise $100,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by sending 12,874 letters that were collected at Thursday's event to people all over the country.
More than 700 students got T-shirts, free food and the opportunity to raise money for the children's hospital at Chico State's fourth annual Up 'til Dawn from 7 p.m. to midnight in Shurmer Gym. "

Family Has Seen Share of Turmoil: "PITTSBURGH � If her husband is elected president, Teresa Heinz Kerry will be among America's most recognizable figures. But she already is commander of a family empire that has been a familiar name to Americans for over a century � one whose history includes political activism and philanthropy, but also infighting and tragedy.

The Heinz family history is told all over this riverfront city � at a stylish museum named for Teresa's late husband, Sen. H.J. 'John' Heinz III, and in archives at Carnegie Mellon University. The name is stamped on parks, schools and a magnificent limestone chapel at the University of Pittsburgh"

RTE Business - Today in the press: "CALL FOR TAX BREAKS FOR DONATIONS - The Government is being urged to introduce new tax benefits for Irish charities in order to encourage an American-style 'culture of philanthropy' in the State, reports the Irish Times.
The paper quotes the Community Foundation for Ireland (CFI), a charitable trust which raises funds largely through high-wealth individuals, as saying philanthropy was 'still in its infancy' in Ireland compared to the US and UK, and this was partly due to a scarcity of tax incentives for donors."

Philanthropy in Canada is coming of age.
We are giving more and becoming more sophisticated about how and where we donate our dollars.
The richest have become increasingly generous, at the same time putting a lasting stamp on the country's institutions.
'Individuals are looking to have an impact on philanthropy. We are seeing more focused, powerful gifts that can really transform an institution,' said Paul Marcus, president and CEO of York University Foundation. 'It is raising the bar of philanthropy.'
Historically, large-scale philanthropy was the quiet purview of a tiny group of the ultra-rich. But Jon Dellandrea"

Council for Advancement and Support of Education - 2004 E-Mail Solicitation Survey: Executive Summary: "2004 E-Mail Solicitation Survey: Executive Summary
Full survey results
Robert Weiner, Robert L. Weiner Consulting
robert@rlweiner.com
In September 2004, CASE distributed its second survey on the use of email fund-raising appeals. The survey was announced by email to nearly 4,500 CASE members as well as members of the FUNDSVCS and ADVANCE-L email forums. We received 463 responses, nearly four times as many as last year. Thank you to all of you who took the time to respond.
Overall, the trends were a continuation of what we saw last year: increasing numbers of higher ed and K-12 institutions are actively using, or trying their first experiments with, email appeals. Campuses seem to be using email to reach broader populations than previously, and many indicated that they've started segmenting and targeting their email appeals. The amount being raised is still generally low, though it's difficult to tell due to tracking problems. Handling unsubscribe requests quickly (as required by the CAN-SPAM act) is an issue, and dealing with bad and changed email addresses is a big problem."

Area of Practice - Initiative - Detail: "The Fundraising Academy for Communities of Color (FACC) is a new training resource for nonprofit staff working in organizations based in communities of color in the San Francisco Bay Area. Through seven days of training (from December 2004 � June 2005), periodic coaching by seasoned fund development professionals and ongoing peer support, FACC participants will gain knowledge, practice and strengthen their fundraising skills and incorporate this into their organizational fund development work. "

Even tradition has its price.
For the annual Ohio State-Michigan football game, it�s slightly more than $1 million.
That�s how much SBC Communications is paying the two universities over the next two years for naming rights to the rivalry. "

t Education: Students, faculty plan to meet today to consider protest related to farmworker treatment
By Adam Rush
Idaho Press-Tribune
BOISE -- Boise State University officials say an agreement to change the name of the Pavilion to the Taco Bell Arena benefits the school despite concerns expressed by some students and faculty.
In June, Boise State signed a
$4 million, 15-year agreement with ES-O-EN Corp. of Meridian to rename the Pavilion to the Taco Bell Arena. ES-O-EN owns Taco Bell stores in Idaho, Utah and Oregon."

By Diala Saadeh
RIYADH, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The Saudi government has stepped up surveillance of charities amid fears that some of the big cash donations made to them during the holy month of Ramadan are being channelled to militant groups like al Qaeda.
Saudis give millions for poor Muslims in Ramadan, but under new measures money is being controlled by the security forces to stop it falling into the hands of al-Qaeda linked militants who have been fighting to topple the Saudi monarchy since May 2003."

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Inquisite, a leading provider ofdo-it-yourself online survey technology, today announced that the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is using Inquisite survey software to enable the success of America's Walk for Diabetes(R), its signature fundraising event. More than 250 Walk sites nationwide participate, with events held throughout the spring and fall.

blackenterprise.com: "PRWeek/PainePR Survey Reveals That Nonprofit/Cause-Marketing Forecast is Bright: Nonprofits Report Ramp-Up in Corporate Support and Predict 17 Percent Increase for Coming Year
Source: PRNewswire
PRESS RELEASE
Publication date: 2004-10-26
NEW YORK, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- PRWeek, the leading trade publication for the public relations (PR) industry, along with PainePR, an award-winning national public relations agency, today announces the results of the PRWeek/PainePR Survey on Maximizing Cause-Related Relationships. Created to shed light on the growing number of corporations who are using cause-related programs as an integral part of their business approach, the survey reveals how, according to nonprofits, corporations can maximize these partnerships to create long-term, and successful campaigns. Additionally, findings reveal a recent upswing in corporate support of nonprofits and a healthy outlook for future corporate giving. "

Car donations to charities may run out of gas: "Car donations to charities may run out of gas
Robert Franklin, Star Tribune
October 26, 2004 CARS1026
An estimated 733,000 U.S. taxpayers donated their cars to charity in one recent year, providing a windfall of millions of dollars to charities that serve the poor, help the disabled and train the disadvantaged for jobs.
But the donations may go off a cliff under the big tax and jobs bill signed Friday by President Bush.
Federal officials complained that donors inflated the value of the cars in claiming them as income tax deductions that added up to perhaps $2 billion a year, costing the U.S. Treasury hundreds of millions of dollars."

As the end of the year approaches, many investors are repositioning their portfolios, gifting assets and implementing other measures as part of their year-end tax planning. As you begin this process, don't overlook the opportunity to make charitable contributions for which you may receive a potential income tax deduction.
Americans are a generous bunch. In 2003 alone, we donated more than $241 billion, according to Giving USA 2004, a research report published by the American Association of Fundraising Counsel. Much of this generosity came in response to phone and mail requests from charities.
The donations are the kind we typically write-off as charitable deductions against our annual income. But now there's a more efficient and potentially more powerful way to contribute to nonprofit organizations: through a donor-advised fund. This type of fund provides donors with a strategy for charitable giving and grant-making flexibility, while offering potential tax and estate planning benefits"

Extra! Wall Street Journal gives away Web content | CNET News.com: "Extra! Wall Street Journal gives away Web content
Published: October 22, 2004, 1:31 PM PDT
By Stefanie Olsen
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
The Wall Street Journal Online, a bastion of subscription-only news on the Web, has begun giving away some content.
In recent months, the business news outfit has been sending nightly e-mail to bloggers, or online diarists, to offer up several daily stories free so that they can point to or link to them from their Web pages. And on Nov. 8, the company plans to remove its paid wall altogether for five days, for the first time in 7 years, according to the company.
'This will enable nonsubscribers to use WSJ.com and learn about the depth of content,' WSJ.com managing editor Bill Grueskin wrote in an e-mail."

The Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News - 26-Oct-04 - Charitable choices : Federal government can�t fix everything: "Charitable choices :
Federal government can�t fix everything
GOVERNMENT�S role in assisting the needy always is in dispute during an election year. This year, President Bush has championed his spending increases for programs such as Medicare, while Sen. John Kerry has accused Bush of not spending enough. Both candidates have put too little faith in the American people.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports in its issue this week that charitable giving is up this year after taking a beating because of the Sept. 11 attacks. Charitable giving traditionally rises when taxes are lowered, as people have more money to give away. The more personal "

Times Online - Industry sectors: "Use of charity in credit card sales angers MPs
By Joe Morgan
MBNA is expected to come under fire at a meeting today of the Commons Treasury Select Committee after it emerged that the group is using its relationship with a charity to sell credit cards in supermarkets.
MPs will criticise the US credit card issuer for using salespeople operating in Safeway stores to sell the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) credit card, an affinity card of the conservation charity. "

Long Island native Robert 'Bobby' Muller, Nobel Peace Prize winner and founder of two pivotal Vietnam Veterans organizations will deliver the keynote address at 8:30 am at the 17th annual Philanthropy Day celebration, presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals/Long Island chapter (AFP/LI) on Friday, November 19 at the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale. The theme of this year's celebration is 'Achieving the Extraordinary Together.' (To learn more about Philanthropy Day, please visit www .philanthropyday.org.)"

Untitled Document: "Continuing Attacks on Nonprofit Speech: Death by a Thousand Cuts II
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (AScribe Newswire) -- Government agencies and officials and conservative allies are increasingly targeting nonprofit organizations for their free speech activities, according to an analysis released Oct. 26, Continuing Attacks on Nonprofit Speech: Death by a Thousand Cuts II. Leaders of several affected organizations joined the authors in describing its findings and their experiences in an audio news teleconference at OMB Watch, the publisher of the report.
'The Bush administration and conservative allies have proposed or begun implementing a number of actions that taken one by one may not seem broadly significant, but taken together constitute a 'death by a thousand cuts' for advocacy by the nonprofit sector,' said Kay Guinane, co-author and Counsel for the Nonprofit Advocacy Project at OMB Watch.
Among actions cited are:
-- Retaliatory action against government grantees that engage in controversial policy discussions or active advocacy that includes points of view different from the administration, regardless of how well those views are supported by science
-- Aggressive application of the global gag rule, and signs of a back-door 'domestic gag rule' that illegally imposes government rules on private funds of grantees
-- Selective enforcement of laws against nonprofits engaged in direct action "

Monday, October 25, 2004

PND News - D.C. Arts Groups Enjoy Robust Box Office Rebound: "D.C. Arts Groups Enjoy Robust Box Office Rebound
Performing arts groups large and small in the Washington, D.C., area have noted a solid resurgence in ticket breceipts as they close their books on the 2003-04 season, indicating a robust rebound after an attendance slump that began with the 9/11 terrorist attacks and was exacerbated by sniper attacks, two blizzards, and two power outages, the Washington Post reports.
For example, the Washington Performing Arts Society, which books plays and concerts in twelve different venues, recorded a 172 percent increase in its sold-out performances for the season just concluded. And this summer, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts posted its best season ever for ticket sales, finishing $500,000 ahead of last year. At Arena Stage, 90 percent of full-season ticket holders renewed their subscriptions for 2003-04 performances, the highest renewal rate in recent years, and 120,000 single-ticket purchasers attended performances, the highest level in the past six "

Another multimillion-dollar donor to Lafayette College wants the school to offer athletic scholarships and said Friday that President Arthur Rothkopf's opposition to them is hurting the college.
William Rappolt, president of Lafayette's club for major contributors, supports Walter Oechsle, who has given more than $12 million to the college but this week resigned in protest from the board of trustees and said he won't give any more unless the policy is changed.
Oechsle, who demanded that Rothkopf resign immediately, and Rappolt believe the president is the driving force behind the board's Oct. 2 vote against offering athletic scholarships. Unless there's a change, they said, Lafayette will deteriorate into a second-rate institution.

Tired of charity hassles? Check out this Web site: "Tired of charity hassles? Check out this Web site
October 25, 2004
BY STEPHANIE ZIMMERMANN Consumer Reporter
It's an annoying byproduct of charitable giving: a well-meaning donor writes a $10 check to a charity and is promptly rewarded with a dozen more solicitations.
But the unwanted pleas, ploys and free address labels are turning some donors off."

www.delawareonline.com : The News Journal : BUSINESS : Kids can be taught rewards of giving: "Kids can be taught rewards of giving
By NEALE S. GODFREY
10/24/2004Giving to less fortunate people doesn't come naturally to many children. In fact, they may not even know that some people don't have homes or food.
But parents can help children learn about charitable giving in a few simple lessons.
In this way, you can impart your personal values to your youngsters and help them grow up to be adults concerned about their greater community. "

Charities fear storms will hurt fund raising: "Sunday, October 24, 2004
urricane season will soon give way to fund-raising season � the November-to-April deluge of 185 galas, dinners and golf tournaments designed to rake in millions of dollars for the wide range of charities in Palm Beach County.
But this year, charity organizers worry that one legacy of the brutal "

Future of NGOs in Yemen - More NGO accountability needed - community - Yemen Times: "Future of NGOs in Yemen
More NGO accountability needed
Mohammed bin Sallam
A recent two-day symposium dealing with NGOs in Yemen continued to send a signal that changes are in store in how their work will be monitored in the future.
The Oct. 18 and 19 symposium was held by the Civil Community Forum (CCF).
A number of researchers and academics reviewed papers relating to updating the legal relationship of the private societies and institutions; and establishing, promoting, and managing them as well as the financial resources of such societies and institutions.
The positive and negative points concerning the relation of these societies and institutions with the government system were discussed along with the sanctions stipulated by the government. The participants also reviewed the rights and duties of the NOGs."

The Chronicle, 10/22/2004: President Bush Signs Into Law New Tax Rules on Noncash Gifts: "President Bush Signs Into Law New Tax Rules on Noncash Gifts
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Washington
President Bush today signed into law a bill that will tighten rules for donations of cars, trucks, and other vehicles, as well as gifts of intellectual property and noncash corporate gifts that exceed $5,000 in value. The changes aim to prevent individuals and companies from taking overly generous deductions for such donations."

The scandal is causing some race sponsors to scale back their support.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte-Mecklenburg detectives are searching for a man who they say embezzled money from the charity he directed.
Grayson Henry Russell is accused of stealing donations from the �Run for Peace� marathon, which takes place in January and is sponsored by The Charlotte Observer and several other local businesses.
The marathon is set up to raise money for The Family Center and the United Family Services Shelter for Battered Women -- two places that provide safety, counseling and assistance to victims of domestic violence."

Neighborhood giving has gone global with the click of a mouse.
While the local black-tie benefit may not be in peril, charities no longer need to stay local to reach donors. They can reach a new, larger audience. "

Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO - A Christian group sued Hastings College of the Law in federal court here Friday for not recognizing it as an official campus organization.
The Christian Legal Society says it should get campus funding and other benefits, but does not have to open its membership to gays, lesbians and nonbelievers - all requirements from the San Francisco law school which is run by the University of California."

Despite the justifiable moans and groans about spam, email is still proving an essential communications medium for business. John Caudwell, chief executive of retailer Phones 4U, had his reasons for banning staff from using email"

Bells won't be ringing in front of Albertson's and Target this year. Both companies have nixed the Salvation Army holiday red kettle program, which means an 18-to-20 percent loss of revenue for the local organization, said Tim Leigh, Salvation Army advisory board member. The kettle campaign is our biggest fundraiser of the year, he said"

Times-Herald - Sunday Outlook: "Nonprofits hope Medusa Mile is a runaway success
By RICHARD FREEDMAN, Times-Herald staff writer
There may be 1,000 runners from all over the Bay Area hibernating because the 'Mare Island to Medusa Race' has been shelved for a year, but that won't stop about 20 Solano County nonprofits from making money Nov. 6.
As the 10K and 5K run was put on the back burner, a scaled down 'Medusa Mile' inside Six Flags Marine World for kids was formulated. And various organizations are selling tickets to the event that's part of 'Healthy Vallejo Day.'"

Nonprofit CEO pay - 2004-10-25 - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle): "OPINION
From the October 22, 2004 print edition
Letter to the Editor
Nonprofit CEO pay
We would like to thank Emory Thomas for his Oct. 8 editorial calling attention to the important work done by the nonprofit sector in this community. The Puget Sound region is blessed with a broad range of nonprofit public service organizations that maintain and enhance a high quality of life for the people in this region. These organizations, big and small, cover service areas as diverse as education, child care, work-force training, biomedical research, philanthropy, civil rights, religion, the environment, arts and health care.
"

In the more than seven years that Dougherty has held the reins, National Benevolent has had its bonds downgraded to junk status, defaulted on portions of its debt, faced a lawsuit from its creditors and filed for bankruptcy protection after racking up more than $220 million in debt"

NBC 15 :: NEWS: "Charitable Giving - Top 10 U.S. Charities
Last Update: 10/24/2004 5:52:44 PM
The top 10 U.S. charities ranked by the amount they raised from private sources in 2003 (and their 2002 ranking):

Charitable Donations Rebound, Study Finds (washingtonpost.com): "Charitable Donations Rebound, Study Finds
By Jennifer C. Kerr
Associated Press
Monday, October 25, 2004; Page A11
Contributions to the nation's biggest charities rose slightly last year after falling in 2002, the first decline in a decade, according to an annual survey by a publication that tracks nonprofit groups.
The study, to be released today by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, found that donations to the 400 largest nonprofit organizations increased by 2.3 percent in 2003, to more than $47 billion. In the previous year, donations fell 1.2 percent, in part because of troubled economic times. "

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Contributions to the nation's biggest charities rose slightly last year after falling in 2002, the first decline in a decade, according to an annual survey by a publication that tracks nonprofit groups.
The study released today by the Chronicle of Philanthropy found that donations to the 400 largest nonprofit organizations increased 2.3 percent in 2003, to more than $47 billion. In the previous year, donations had fallen 1.2 "

PRESS RELEASE: In Turnaround, 2003 Charitable Giving Outpaced Holiday Spending: "In Turnaround, 2003 Charitable Giving Outpaced Holiday Spending
In a major change from 2002, Americans spent more last year on charity than they did on holiday gifts. Holiday retail sales for November and December 2003 in the general merchandise category totaled roughly $217 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. Charitable giving for 2003 topped $240 billion.
(PRWEB) October 25, 2004 -- �Because Americans had been spending more on holiday gifts than they gave to charity in an entire year - I started the Holiday For Charity program in 2002,� says Harry Hoover, managing principal of Hoover ink PR. �Perhaps in some small way, the program made a difference. I hope that people will continue to give to charity as they did last year, and my Holiday For Charity program provides easy ways to help the less fortunate.�"

The Family Limited Partnership ('FLP') ensures continuous succession of property ownership and control from one generation to the next, while sheltering family assets and financial resources from waste, estate taxation, and creditors. The FLP is composed of two types of partners: general partners who are entitled to a pro rata share of the partnership's profits and losses, and are entitled to all the rights of management and control of the partnership; and limited partners who have the same pro rata right to partnership profits, losses and distributions as the general partners, but have no rights of management or control of the partnership (unless such limited partner is also a general partner or acting on behalf of the general partner).
One of the preliminary objectives of an FLP is to carry on a"